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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Columbia Barnard chapter.

Figuring out what to wear to spring sorority formal got me like:

It’s SO STRESSFUL to figure out how to look hot, classy, effortless, seasonally appropriate, and still be (relatively) comfortable and be able to dance in your outfit… It’s a lot to keep in mind when going dress shopping. Luckily, the spring gives a little more leeway, because we don’t also have to worry about being warm or wearing tights, thank God. When looking for a formal dress, I try to think about the “look” I’m going for as a whole as opposed to going into a store with no idea of what I want – it speeds up the process because you can narrow down what you’re looking for. Do I want to wear all black with gold accessories? Do I want a floral romper with nude heels? A two-piece set? Something with sequins? The possibilites are endless, but try to envision the ensemble as a whole – hopefully including shoes, jewelry, and undergarments that you already own so you’re not spending an inordinate amount of money. To get the brainstorming started, here’s some of my favorite spring formal looks – pick one and get to shopping!

 

Pastel with light accessories

 

This is like the more formal, sexy version of a Sunday brunch look: a pastel dress (think seafoam green, light lavender, or pale peach) with white and nude accessories, and light, feminine jewelry. This is a really sweet and feminine look, perfect for the “girly girl,” but with the right dress it has the potential to be super hot. Pair with “no makeup makeup” and light peach or nude lipstick.

 

All black with bold accessories

An easy way to liven up the all black look, this outfit turns the LBD into a spring-ready ensemble. Pair your favorite black dress with bright accessories in a neon or bold color. Make sure you don’t overdoing it by opting for neutral shoes, or bright shoes with minimal jewelry – you don’t want your accessories to clash! Dark but neutral makeup is a must; try a smokey eye with dark brown or nude lips.

 

Two Piece Set

It’s finally spring, so you know what that means – time to break out the crop tops! Sun’s out, tums out, amiright? For this look you can pair a complementary skirt and top, a basic top with print/patterened skirt or skort, or a 2 piece set that is made to match. This look is a bit more casual than the others, but it has the potential to be super cute and sexy, so you do you. 

 

All White Minimalism

Nothing says confidence like a full-on all-white fleek suit; it calls attention to you almost immediately and can give you a spring glow like no other color. Keep it simple by pairing with black and gold or silver accessories. White has a tendency to look very sweet and innocent if it’s a looser silhouette, so if you’re going for sex appeal try to keep geometric shapes, hard lines, and a close fit – plus a bold lip never hurts!

 

Formal Romper

Rompers are hands down my favorite thing to wear to formal because it’s so so easy to dance without worrying about your skirt riding up or not being able to ~drop it low~ without flashing everybody. In general, solid color rompers read as more formal and floral can look “brunchy,” but with high enough heels it doesn’t really matter… plus like it’s spring, so if you want to wear floral then go for it, you know?

 

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Sofia Lyons

Columbia Barnard

I'm a first year student at Barnard and aspiring fashion journalist, hoping to bring my fellow collegiettes some style tips & info about upcoming trends! I also love singing/songwriting, dancing, event planning, community service, eating good food, and exploring NYC.